Loon Today Saint Tomorrow

Loon Magic

Original Oil Painting

16" x 20"

by

Judy Vars

It is finished and signed, this one turned out nice. I won't show you the failed attempts to paint animals just the ones that good ones.

Lately I have given myself a strict schedule and am driving myself to get er done. In the morning I take a five mile walk to work. When I get back to my studio I set my stopwatch and do nothing else but paint for at least 4 hours. It's very interesting how much painting gets done, the last three days I've done a painting a day. Encaustics go rather quickly and I get some amazing paintings. I have two shows coming up, a mini show at The Girdwood Center for The Visual Arts in July 16th to 31st and the show at the Madd Matters in Palmer in August. It would be great if I had all new work. I do not have a name for this show yet. I am creating encaustic paintings, some assemblage, oils and icons all the things I love to do. I hope from that eclectic soup will come a theme or idea.

Tomorrow I will post St Jude, patron saint of hopeless cases.

In order to win, we pay with energy and effort and discipline. If we lose, we pay in disappointment, discontent, and lack of fulfillment. Maya Angelo

Art Therapy and G-O-D

The Universe or G-O-D has an uncanny way of answering my prayers; let me explain over the years I have had an dilettante like interest in Art Therapy. I have read articles and books on the subject and practiced it in my own creations.
The Wikipedia dictionary definition is: Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses art materials, such as paints, chalk and markers. Art therapy combines traditional psychotherapeutic theories and techniques with an understanding of the psychological aspects of the creative process, especially the affective properties of the different art materials. Boring.

I am not a professional art therapist (yet) with a Masters Degree in psychology, yet because of the assemblage class I did for the Two Spirits Gallery the universe has provided me an opportunity to work with the Mental Health Consumer Web doing art workshops. I don't know everything about the psyochotherapeutic theories and techniques but I do have patient compassionate nature combined with a desire to help my fellow man. I do know how to make and facilitate the make ing of art that is individual and helps the creator understand themselves a little better.

Monday I will talk to Hossanna and more will be revealed...........Thank you once again for prayers answered.
Love
Judy

The Joys of Garage Sales

Daughter and I went to G-Kids school for a tea party and entertainment.


On the way home we were bitten by the Garage Sale bug. Years ago I released my inner pack rat and started to comb second hand stores, yard sales, junk yards etc. Once, I lost my old boots to a shoe repair shop, they had been all over Europe with me. I found them at a flea market, it was like finding an old friend. I actually shook with excitement at seeing them.

My mother, grandmother, sister are junk collectors they seriously save everything. My Grandmother had a box car filled with magazines, clothes, newspapers, records, can labels, diaries simply everything. My mother also horded and saved she shopped second hand stores compulsively collecting purses. Patty my sister is a master collector with the most amazing ephemera, bottles, trunks, trinkets, jewelery, boxes, old glass chaskies. It is packed in boxes in the attic for her grandkids to discover. She knows the secret pleasure of snooping just like me. I have an excuse for collecting junque, it's for art.

Quote out of the Art of Assemblage

Junk culture is city art, Its source is obsolesce, the throwaway material of cities, as it collects in drawers, cupboards, attics, gutters, waste lots dumps.
Objects have a history: first they are brand new goods, then they are possessions accessible to few, subjected, often to intimate and repeated use; then as waste, they are scarred by use but available again… Assemblages of such material come at the spectator as bits of life, bits of the environment. The urban environment is present, then as the source of object whether transformed or left alone. Lawrence Alloway


Here is what I bought:

• Doll heads and body parts. .50


• No hands magninfing mirror .75


• Old mason jar for Folgers coffee 2.00


• leather toolers letters (some missing) .50


• Blue pottery bowl med 4.00


• New Lancome brush set, eye makeup remover and cosmetic bag 3.00


• Big Lace crochet doilie FREE


• Bottom Line 10.75
  

Yesterday I took my $75.00 winnings and bought myself a new comfortable pair of Burkenstocks for $71.00 and treated myself to a black tea chai smoothie, yummy.

Whos The First Place Winner of the Raven Show? Me Thats Who

First Place- Judy Vars "How the Raven Steals the Light"...Second Place- Amber Johnson "Abstract Raven" and Third Place and also People's Choice - Dena Tanquay "Kutqli, A Raven Reborn"
How the Raven Steals the Light
by
Judy Vars

In the beginning the world was in darkness. The raven who had existed from the beginning was tired of groping about and bumping into things.
The raven knew of an old man who lived with his granddaughter. He had a great treasure, a box that concealed all the light in the universe. The raven vowed to steal the light. Raven changed himself into a pine needle and dropped himself into the river just as the girl was dipping water from the river. The raven slithered down her warm belly and grew into an odd looking human baby.

Despite his odd appearance grandfather loved him anyway But the old man promised dire punishment if raven baby ever touched the precious treasure box. Nonetheless the raven child begged and begged to be allowed to hold the light just a moment. In time the old man yielded, and lifted from the box a warm golden sphere, which he threw to his grandson.

As the light was moving toward him the human child transformed himself back into his raven self with his beak open in anticipation. As the beautiful ball of light reached him raven captured it in his beak. Moving powerful wings, raven burst through the smoke hole in the roof of the house, and escaped into the darkness with his stolen treasure

And that is how light came into the universe

Assemblage Class @ Two Sprits Gallery

My Assemblage Class is Saturday and Multi-tasking

I am not a multi-tasker in the past I knew how to multi-task but not anymore. Trying to do several things at once makes me feel crazy, I notice that I am trying to do multi things I start walking around in circles and talking to myself and not being productive. When I am on the computer please do not try to talk at me, I am not listening. When I am watching my stories don't interupt me with questions, when painting I'm in my happy place and don't like to be interupted... It's so funny to notice how easily distracted I am, example: While cooking dinner (Ok I'll admit it, I don't like to cook) and trying to blog or check my e-mails and talk on the telephone, dinner gets burned or it's sub-par. It's much nicer to have dear one cook my dinner.

Today am learning how to slow down stop and listen to people when they want my attention.
I make it an active meditation to focus on one thing at a time, do it and do it well.
My blog has not been getting my attention but everything is great, I am getting up earlier, Peter & I walking 5 miles, we are eating better and communicating better.

For the past week I have been concentrating on preparing for my assemblage class and not painting anything. http://twospiritsgallery.com/pages/art-classes
August it is my ta,ta,ta,taaaaa art show at the Madd Matters Gallery, I have 86 days until my show. I do not know what to call it yet. I drempt of myself in a purple dress. Any suggestions???

p.s. My Raven Triptych sold for all the dough!

One-Day-At-A-Time

Ok so here is the skinny, I'm giving myself a birthday present and lots of attention so here are my goals.

To quickly improve my health, outlook and apperance in time for my show at Madd Matters gallery August 8th, 2009 and on time for my 57th birthday!

1. Lose 2 pounds a week until I reach my goal weight


2. My birthday is 16 weeks from today I will weigh 32 pounds less!


3. I will continue to walk everyday and eat heathfully


4. On July 1st 6 weeks from my art show I will go to the gym and work on the weight machines and sculpt my figure.


5. On my birthday I will have fun and continue my live-it improve my well being and life.
6. My show will be a success and I will be happy with the Judy I am.

I'm a Proud Grandma in Bloggersville

This is my 484th post just 16 away from 500! Woo, Hoo I should throw a party for my blog! Here is my grandson Max at Midnight Suns talent show. It's not like I am a proud grandma and my grandsons are not talented because they are. Max is only 10 he got an electric guitar for Christmas and this is how he can spank that thing.
This one is better if you can get to it http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1676784108&v=feed&story_fbid=1028478847019#/video/video.php?v=1073739968234

Max plays Electric Funeral by Ozzie Ozborne

She should put it on U-Tube so the world can see it, he is sooooo talented.

Is This Kitschy ART?

Me the ever self effacing, I go to Girdwood yesterday to pick up some of my art work. There is a piece that I did out of an old window frame, It has birch bark, encaustic wax, moss, it's a quint folksy piece and would work in a rustic Alaska cabin or with someone who likes fun artwork. But I find it in the gallery bathroom, no one wants to buy the bathroom art. So I say to the lady at the gallery,"I 'm taking this home I think it is a little too kischy for your gallery." She just nods, smiles and agrees. Snarkey, snarkey.

Peter laughs at me and tells me kichey is not a word. So I ask my Jewish friend in San Francisco, Marty, if it is not a Yiddish word for low class or tacky? He e-mails me back and says: No, I don't think that "kitchie" is a Yiddish word...I think it's modern slang, meaning like "it's a bit too much", but who knows?

Then daughter Nicole finds the definition with a different spelling, bingo I am right on! When it comes to vocabulary I am better than most.

Kitsch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kitsch (/kɪtʃ/) is the German and Yiddish word denoting art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art. The term kitsch was a response to the 19th century art whose aesthetics convey exaggerated sentimentality and melodrama, hence, kitsch art is closely associated with sentimental art.

However, this beggs the question is this piece of artwork Kitchey or should I add some kitchen curtains???

How the Raven Steals the LIght

by
Judy Vars

In the beginning the world was in darkness. The raven who had existed from the beginning was tired of groping about and bumping into things.
The raven knew of an old man who lived with his granddaughter. He had a great treasure, a box that concealed all the light in the universe. The raven vowed to steal the light. Raven changed himself into a pine needle and dropped himself into the river just as the girl was dipping water from the river. The raven slithered down her warm belly and grew into an odd looking human baby.

Despite his odd appearance grandfather loved him anyway But the old man promised dire punishment if raven baby ever touched the precious treasure box. Nonetheless the raven child begged and begged to be allowed to hold the light just a moment. In time the old man yielded, and lifted from the box a warm golden sphere, which he threw to his grandson.

As the light was moving toward him the human child transformed himself back into his raven self with his beak open in anticipation. As the beautiful ball of light reached him raven captured it in his beak. Moving powerful wings, raven burst through the smoke hole in the roof of the house, and escaped into the darkness with his stolen treasure

And that is how light came into the universe

The Art of Assemblage - click on picture for a larger view

When Kay Klose the Curator of two Spirits gallery bought my Frida Assemblage she asked me if I would be receptive to teaching assemblage art. Well it's just like me to jump in with both feet so I said great! I love to make assemblage art and I love to teach creative people what I know about my craft. I will be teaching the art of assemblage at the Two Spirits Gallery in Anchorage. This is an opportunity to do a little art therapy, one of the art fields I would love to learn more about. One of my biggest frustrations or should I say challenges is to create art that inspires me, or makes me think outside the box, or is beyond my comfort zone in some aspects (that way I learn) vs painting the things I think people will want to buy.

Assemblage art is a non-conventional art form using found objects. Based on the artists personal vision the objects are imbibed with new meanings and associations sometimes telling a story and sometimes unearthing feelings that need to see the light of day.

I enjoy workshops for that reason it's just a chance to play again ,mingle with creative people and make a piece of artwork that it uniquely one-of-a-kind.

To make it more affordable the class is $35.00.

Presenting My Slide Show of Costa Rica in no particular order

snowbirds; a person or persons who vacations in or moves to a warmer climate during cold weather.
It's too late to stuff the genie back in the bottle, we've had a taste of the snowbird lifestyle and want more.

The End of The Day

We've been back to my home over two weeks now and we are getting back into our routines.We are restored and renewed with our priorities back in balance. Peter and I are walking every morning and eating a more heathful diet. The added benefit is my creative juices are flowing! I've noticed my art work going through a metamorphosis. The raven triptych that I am working on is going to be outstanding! I am making it for a juried raven show at the Madd Matters Gallery in Palmer. It is the story of how the raven steals the light. Pictures and info about the show to follow.

With my computer woes I haven't been able to download my photos, do my taxes any of the hundreds of things that I use this tool we call a PC everyday. It's been annoying but now I am up and running. Oh except Photo Shop and that's still a pain in the ass.

Here is a short video of the sunset on the OSA Peninsula is was the last light on a beautiful hot Costa Rican day. We had hiked in the Corcovado National Park saw macaws, monkeys, raccoon like creatures with long anteater snouts. If I could only use Photoshop I'd make you a slide show perhaps I can figure something out soon. We did get some good pictures really....my holiday is slowly becoming yesterdays news. I want my slide show now so you can see it.

Gurrrrr its business as usual and my main computer is on the fritz.

It's hard to come back from a month of holiday in paradise and have to do crappy things like taxes.

My taxes are reaching the deadline and my computer is still out-of-service and needs a new hardrive. My techies ordered it last Friday and said it would be arrive the next day. Yea Right sure. April 15 is fast approaching and I have done nothing to get my taxes done. I guess I could sort receipts or something.

A phone call just came and my techies said the part came at 5:30 and the computer will be ready in the early afternoon. YAY I can do my taxes. If I had the money and I wasn't basically cheap I'd take them to H&R Blockhead and save myself the aggravation

I did start two new paintings today; St Jude the patron saint of hopeless cases and artists
and a raven with the northern lights (a painting that usually sells). Tomorrow I'm going to some art shows and Sunday is Easter so taxes will have to wait until Monday. Hows that for procrastinating and waiting until the last minute?

I'd rather be painting and playing.

Home at Last

We enjoyed Seattle after all saw Pikes Market, looked at art galleries and just soaked in the city. City life is where P and I disagree, I can see myself living in a big city like San Fran, New York, or Paris drinking coffee at Starbucks, shopping at the farmers markets, going to art openings, feeding the pigeons with a good book, jogging in the park, it's a total romantic fantasy.

I made a commitment to work in the gallery in Girdwood so a day after I got home I had to drive 2 hours up and 2 hours back for two days in a row. God I'm tired!
To complicate things my computer took a dump and froze up! Josh my techie said the hard drive is broken, but not to worry all my info is being backed up. This means that i cannot download all my photographs from Costa Rica which is frustrating I wanted to look at them by now and make a cool slide show for my blog. Oh well trankilo baby.

This vacation was good for my soul and it helped us to get things sorted out, rekindle our marriage and get our priorities sorted out. We had so many adventures and funny coincidences and met hundreds of cool people like Marty from Fairfax, CA, Adrian from Ecuador, Dan from Florida even Tom from Kodiak Island, Alaska whose mother Doris is my very eccentric (crazy) neighbor. The world is a small place after all and we should all take better care of her, ourselves and each other. We waste way, way too much paper in this country not to mention everything else we consume it's just not necessary.

This little old Dell laptop computer is a total pain so I'll keep it short aqnd blog again when I am rested.
Tired in Alaska

As the fates would have it we are stuck in Seattle

Because of Mt Redoubt we are stuck in cold rainy Seattle at the Red Lion Inn.
Yesterday at 5:00 a.m. we left our fancy 5 star hotel in San Jose. Costa Rica (a major splurge) and flew to Houston. We’ve been out of touch, so Peter asks the Continental Airline agent in Houston if there were any problems with flights to Anchorage because of the volcano. He punches some keys on his machine and says; no sir, there are no problems.

In reality, the flights to Anchorage are cancelled there are people who have been stranded in Seattle for more than a week, no money, no medicine, no clothes etc.

Now over 10 years ago I had a run in with Continental, because I had a comp ticket they were ignorant from the start, the ticket agent was so nasty she even sent my weak mother down the wrong concourse. I swore to never fly Continental again.
I decided to forgive and forget until again last night. The ticket agents were once again rude,
I have every right to be disgruntled, they seemed to enjoy our distress. They choose not to fly even though Alaska Airlines is going to Anchorage. Why? They had no sufficient answer for that except "because we're not". There is no compensation what-so-ever for the hardships this has created for people. Do not fly Continental!

Today its better we have more perspective on the matter. This is an act of God, something which we have no control over. Things could be worse, we can catch a bus to the Jimmy Hendrix Museum, the Space Needle , the wharf, or just watch Clint Eastwood movies in the room. Here is an interesting coincidence (there are no coincidences) Peter was stranded in the Anchorage Airport for a week 20 years ago when Mt Redoubt erupted. Is there a volcano metaphor in there somewhere?

The internet is costing me $5.00 for every half hour unlike Costa Rica which was approximately $3.00 for two hours, so gotta go we are short on cash. Say a prayer for us or send some good vibes that we can get out tomorrow night.
I am finally missing my life in Alaska.

Our Excellent Adventure

Yesterday at 5:00 a.m. we were ready to go with our local friend Kurt who also lives in our home town in Alaska. Curt was on a quest to find this man he read about in the Tico Times over two years ago. He wanted to find out about how to garden a cash crop to help his mother-in-law, organic gardening tips and buy some plants from him. He knew he lived in Rio Carlo so early yesterday we three walked to the docks and took the slow ferry across one of the deepest gulfs in the world to Golfito about one hour, from Golfito we caught a bus to Rio Claro another hour. Then Kurt asked at the local Feed Store where to find this gringo that grows organic plants. After some back and forth they drew a map. We walked back and hired a cab and gave him our directions.

When we arrived this spry old guy comes out greeting us like we were old freinds talking American with a Maine accent and yelling at his 4 little dogs in perfect Spanish it was great. Curt told him why he was here and what kind of plant he wanted to grow. This man Robert showed us his farm, it was a botanical Garden of Eden. He walked and talked fast talking the whole time we passed by a shrine and a grave he explained that was his wife Mimi's who passed 6 years ago he visits her every night sits drinks a beer and talks to her. Robert has been on his plot of paradise since the 60's and his family is here also, he answered all Curts questions was an incredible fountain of knowledge about tropical plants and organic growing.

After our tour of his botanical garden we were resting and talking under the picnic area when the conversation turned to medicinal plants. This is when it really gets interesting, I firmly believe that there are no accidents in life and this is one of those times. Peter showed him some of his skin cancer a result of being a red head and a growing up a surf dog in California.
Robert goes back into his house and brings back something he calls black sauve
made from zinc cloride, chaparral and bloodroot. He is the same skin type and Peter and suffered the same thing, he showed his were they had been and now are gone. It turns out that he has a lifetime of experience and is fountain of knowledge about herbal remedies of tropical plants. He walked briskly into his house to get us a start for a cambuchi mushroom, and again to get us a draft of a book he is writing about a cancer diet. His energy enthusiasm and passion for life was amazing and so inspirational.

Quote Robert Beatham: I'm still a young man and I've got alot to accomplish.
Check him out!
http://paradise-garden.tripod.com/index.htm

Later we went to an beautiful hotel in Golfito because we were told they had the best hamburgers anywhere around. The Hotel was completely over the top luxurious, pool you wouldn't believe, a theatre, 3 bars, masusse, hair salon I finally saw some beautiful Costa Rican artwork, it had 60 rooms and no customers. The public relations guy was this funny very inebrated Polock guy our age with a wild and crazy story to tell. But thats another story.
Now back the way we came.

Saturday Night and things are getting a little crazy

Maby it was too much sun yesterday and the wierd events last night but weve hit the wall Peter is napping which he refused to do in prior days, just like a kid didnt want to miss a thing. We took the ferry, really a boat across the bay to Golfito, a very beautiful Carribean type town, paved roads and everything. When we got back and were eating a late lunch at our usual spot. I noticed a very interesting man with a braided beard, long hair, cool tatoos and tribal jewelery. He was showing the artisans in front of us crafts his art. I thought this guy is a fellow artist and a free spirit. He was standing partially hidden behind the wall and caught my eye with one of his and I got a good vibe from him. I watched him talking to a well dressed business man and wondered what these unlikely two were talking about, then I noticed they were looking at a book and discussing tatoos. When we were walking back to the hotel I saw him again, so I asked Peter to ask him if he could fix my lion tatoo. I was never quite happy with the way my lion on my left shoulder turned out but no one in Alaska would fix it only cover it up. Its some ethical code among tatooists I guess, even though I drew the lion and gave it to the guy to do. We stood on the sidewalk and looked at my back and with hardly any common language we agreed upon a price $50.00 and that he would come to our hotel in one hour. We are staying at a very nice clean little family run hotel and I was nervous about what they might think of this hippy looking Guatemalan guy carrying bags coming to my room.

He arrived and set up his equipment, Peter stayed by and scrutenized everything examined the needles to make sure they were never used. Once satisfied he went outside to let the artist work. Getting a tattoo is not entirely painless so I closed my eyes and went to my happy place and just let him work. Then as if right on time the lights went out just like last week and my tatoo was not completed. We agreed to meet at the soda Carolina for some sparkling waters. Adrian got his girlfriend she was the cuttest little lady from Japan named Hokono. This is when things got even funnier she had been traveling with Adrian about 4 months and spoke pretty good Spanish but English not so well so communicating in the dark by candlelight was like some Sienfeld episode we were all getting tired of trying to talk. At one point I said who is the president of Guatemalla
and he said:

• no politics
• no football
• no religion

I understood him quite clearly.

When the lights came back on as if someone threw a breaker 3 hours later it was getting late.
Adrian finished my lion tattoo. It was just enough time for my skin to get tender so the last session was painful but I held my mud. Now I am satisfied with it there is a sun behind his head and instead of looking like a stamp on my back there is ground and Joshua trees. Its on my shoulder blade and I usually forget it is there but now I don't mind showing it to people cuz its cool.

Paradise gives one perspective

After a long ride in the collectivo (a cattle truck) we got out at Carate a horse and cart was waiting to take our bags to La Leona a 45 minute walk on the beach in the sun is a very challenging treck. I imagined just falling face first into the soft sand and letting the ocean wash me away. The lodge is an eco lodge we lived in the nicest tents with a deck, chairs. On our deck where we spent most of our time drinking water and fine Costa Rican coffee and looking at the rip tides and looking at the tropical plants and the animals like bats at night. The tent was cleaned daily by the staff, candles were lit every night on the trail because it's lights out at 9:00 a.m. Peter and I took several hikes into the Corcovado National park and saw an quite a bit of wild animals (no snakes) walked on the beach, watched the sunset and the sunrise, the shower was outdoors the most delicious meals were served. It was a paradise on earth we kept reminding each other how fortunate we were.
Paradise gives one perspective. We made a personal mission statement, made some worthy goals and communicated most excellently. Check it out!
http://www.laleonaecolodge.com/
The place should be a secret however I can't keep a secret.

We bumped into a cool and interesting couple from Washington D.C. John and Allison. They were great recyclers and people interested in alternative living and not polluting the planet we had some long fascinating conversations on the deck about, the new administration, President Obama, where we came from, preserving the planet, we broke bread together and they even gave us a ride in their very little SUV back to Puerto Imenez and left me with a partial bag of dog food for the hungry stray dogs.

Happy Trails to you until we meet again.

Trankilo or take it easy no worries

thats the way it is here, the second daywe were here there were 2 earthquakes the epicenter out in the bay about 5.7 on the rickter and 5.7 and I felt about 7 afterschocks and the electricity keeps going off and on again the other afternoon Friday I think the power went off for about 4 hours every one took it in their stride, we all went out onto the streets and congregated there were candles everywhere, Peter and I ate at a beautiful little soda by candle light. Because there were no city lights the stars in the sky were unbelieveablely I even saw shooting stars. These town people are so nice to us its wonderful. There was a talent show in the town square after the lights came on, I filmed a dance, we were the only gringos there but I don't care, I would love to have these people adopt me.

Everynight we meet our Alaskan freinds at what we call the office, the corner booth at our favorite soda telling fish stories and watching the street life. We indulged out dreams a little bit and looked at some beach front property. It included out buildings, monkeys, dogs, trees of every variety and the ocean, price today 600,000 american dollars. I think the guy Ronnie thought we were American millionaires. What they can't understand is we work ourselves to death to keep the crap we own and don't have time to enjoy the stuff. Stress is the number one killer with our way of life. Here life is slowed down, people live simply, smile alot and take life easily. Factoid: Costa Rica is considered a blue zone people live longer and do not suffer from stress related diseases.

Yesterday we rode about 9 kilometers to the other beach on our bikes, Oh My God 85 degrees and 85% humitity it kicked my ass, at one point I just stopped and balled like a baby from frusration. The TiCos drove past in their cars, 4 wheelers, and motor bikes looking at the crazy people riding bikes in the heat. Way to stay cool, jump in the ocean and let the wind cool you off, take about three showers a day, drink fruit drinks, stay trankilo.

Today we are going to get some things together because early tomorrow we are heading into the Corcovado National Park for three days. Pumas, snakes, sloths, monkeys and the like. Five thirty a.m. to catch the colectivo and a two hour ride in a cattle truck, then they will put our gear on a donkey cart and walk the beach for about a half hour till we arrive at the tent camp, lights are turned off at 9:00 pm. I have been taking tons of pictures which I cannot download for various reasons.
Adios mey amigos
stay tuned.

Ola! this internet cafe is air conditioned so I may stay for awhile

Today is Wednesday I have to keep reminding myself because down here in Puerto Jimenez time is getting away from me. Peter is marlin fishin today and I am on my own. We landed in San Jose, Costa Rica on Sunday night a cabbie took us to a hotel just 3 minutes from the airport into a real scary part of town with bars in all the windows, there were nefarious characters walking around. I wanted to go for a walk, I must see, smell and touch things, nothing happened. The next day we took a small plane to Puerto Jimenez the ride was bumpy at first and gave me a scare, but flying through the clouds along the coast line and seeing the rain forest below was unbelievably beautiful. I noticed fires burning below and wondered if they were started with lightening or man made.

Our friend met us on his bicycle and showed us our room. I must say everything is very clean the people are friendly inspite of this being a big tourist destination they are not impatient or rude. It is very heartening to know that they are ecologically minded they serve the greatest food on the planet. I'd forgotten how good a fresh egg tastes, or a tomato even lettuce tastes better. They give us food on real plates and give us real flatwear to use. I have not seen any styrofoam containers, plastic forks or to go cups. There is not hot water in our room because most of the folks take cool showers to conserve energy. It is surprisingly refreshing. The water is sweet and drinkable for us Gringos. The Costa Rican people call themselves Tikos. The last two nights we have just sat for a couple of hours at the corner table outdoors, eating, drinking (near beer) and watching the active street life outside. I took a dip in the ocean yesterday and it was hot and the salt water stung my senstive Alaskan skin.

I even got in on some local politics. School here has been in session for about 3 weeks now the eleven year olds do not have a teacher because she is pregnant the doctor said; no work!
So the 5th and 6th graders have not had to go to school. With some instigation from some of the American residents they bought some locks and chains and locked the gates in protest. This morning there were kids and parents outside the school locked out. So No School Today The local police seem to be ineffective but very sweet and kind.

Today I plan to sketch, blog, visit the beach, do laundry, buy some shorts, hang out at the soda cafe, check into a canopy tour.
Tomorrow we are taking a tour of the rain forest and playing poker, Friday we are invited to a party. I could really get used to this life. Note to self: Learn espanol.
Buenos Dias

Bye Bye Snow, Hello Paradise

Today is an incredible lovely day in Alaska the sun is out no more dark days the temp is in the 40s spring is around the corner. Just 2 weeks after the last dog crossed the finish line in the Ididarod then break-up comes (Alaskan name 4 spring).

Tomorrow I am leaving, if I have internet capabilities in paradise you will be hearing from me but if not it's..........

Adiós estimado familiar, los amigos, y los lectores. Estaré en el paraíso. Si yo nunca vuelvo entonces por favor me recuerda cariñosamente.

te quiero.

Judy

What the ell or Saint Judy Walks on Eggshells

Ok so when I opened my eyes this morning there was my significant other talking at me about this thing he was worried about. I agreed and said, it' a good idea to hide your truck keys, he said he didn't like my tone.... What??? I was still half asleep and couldn't get what he was so angry about, well it got worse. Yelling and saying things that we can't take back. So all day long I was a total wreck. Sharon and I drove to Anchorage to do some errands but I was so dysfunctional with my puffy eyes and messed up hair that we just drove in circles, I was a total wreck. I knew she was doing everything possible to try and cheer me up but I still felt so bad.
Now P's son has had some rather serious troubles lately and P is so co-dependant that when things go wrong that he can't control he acts like King Baby and a couple of other things I won't say here. Somebody needs a vacation.

Perhaps I know my blog is not the place to rant about personal things, if I took out a journal and wrote my feelings down it would be more therapeutic than censoring myself, all the time. I have an idea for an icon it's called Saint Judy Walks on Eggshells, this beautiful women with a long graceful body and pointed toes hovering 1/16" above the eggshells, walking softly as to not break even one, she is wearing rose colored glasses and her head is in the clouds or a fog.

I found this on Dab's blog http://artbydabs.blogspot.com/
Judy in Alaska... I read your blog... now you are having FUN! That is yet another reason why Alaska calls to me to come back... the fun that Judy has! I think Judy would be a hoot to hang around with.

WoW thats nice Dabs, we could really have some fun and without those peskey men!!!

Only 5 Days Left Until We Leave For Costa Rica

In the past when I would hear someone bragging and saying things like "Oh yes when we were in the French Riveria, and then begin to drone on about their trip to Spain, Mexico, England, Ireland, anywhere that's over the ocean. I'd think to myself they sound like their bragging. Well you know it's just a kind of jealousy that causes me judge others when they tell their stories about their trips abroad. Most of my stories about my traveles are from the late 70s, it's ancient history, so mostly I just listen. But lately I've noticed myself telling everyone "we am going to Costa Rica" and the tone of my voice is very prideful almost braggadocio. I just can't help it, I am so excited to take this holiday. Especially in this recession, our American friend says the locals are asking "where are the Americans this year?" HERE WE ARE!!!

Hey, I'm at the Fur Rendezvous on 4th Avenue inside the Sunshine Plaza along with other Alaskan arts and craftsmen check me out if you're in downtown Anchorage Saturday and Sunday for the running of the Reindeer and the other festivities.

Today I got up at 4:15 a.m. gez I was groggy until noon because I took some sleeping tablets to get to bed early. Tomorrow I'll do better and just accept that I am not going to get much sleep and go for it. Now for a nice long shower and then to bed and sleep, sleep, sleep.
Niteall

Happy Mardi Gras and Ashley Meadows as the Queen of Honeybees

Here is one last picture of the costume and just in time for Mardi Gras. Thursday it will be modeled at Evangelos restaurant and the Valley recyclers luncheon and then it will be displayed at the Madd Matters Gallery in Palmer. OoW I'm getting alot of mileage from this costume.
When it has made its rounds I will dismantle this and store it away for some future use.

Judy O Queen Bee (satisfied smiles)

The Wearable Art Show and the Honey Bee Queen in no particular order

THE KAKM ART AUCTION AND ME

I had a great time at the auction got to get my mug on tv and donate to public tv. There is no footage thank God! I was a little nervous but my family saw it and said I did fine, my hair looked good and I sounded professional. The piece that I put in was titled "A Place in the heart" It was auctioned off for $575.00 pretty good considering...
Teresa Ascone said it's so moody and beautiful. So like Paul Harvey used to say "heeeeres . . . . . . the rest of the story."
South Mountain, Franklin County, Idaho
Size: W. 38" X H. 27"
Medium: OIL
Artist: Judy Vars
I loved doing this painting of a place in my heart, this mountain was part of a canyon where the Bear River Massacre took place one of the most shameful battles in American history.
More than 400 Shoshoni occupied a winter camp that offered ideal protection in Battle Creek Canyon. But they suffered a disaster unmatched in western history when Connor's Force struck at daybreak, January 29, 1863. It was a bloody conflict where even women and children fought fiercely, in the end they were defeated by the troops from California. The unruly troop raped women, burned the huts, stole the horses and left the survivors to freeze to death.

Why do I call this small mountain a place in the heart? It is because it was a landmark on the way to my grandmother’s house in Weston, Idaho. The stillness and loneliness of this place I recalled while painting this scene. The railroad tracks, the wind, the fields, the bees, the hay and a hot August day.
Remembering one frozen January years past driving with my mother to Grandmothers house, we drove for miles and miles not seeing a car, a person or any sign of life; it was so still and so cold so very cold. This scene seemingly unchanged is etched in my memory forever a place in my heart.

Please don't tell anyone, the painting was to thick and wet when I was doing it some nats flew on it got stuck and died, they looked like hawks so I left them on. he he he

If I don't go to bed and stop blogging around I am going to be sorry. Tomorrow I am working at the Firefly Gallery all day and then i am going over to KAKA the public TV Station to be interviewed on air!YIKES I feel just like a starlet on Jay Leno or something. Please send me good vibes.

Castles In The Sky

Title: Castles In The Sky
Medium: Oil
Size: 12 x 24
Artist: J Vars
Price: 350.00

There’s a place in my mind
No one knows where it hides
And my fantasy is flying
It’s a castle in the sky

It’s a world of our past
Where the legend still lasts
And the king wears the crown
But the magic spell is law

Take your sword and your shield
There’s a battle on the field
You’re a knight and you’re right
So with dragons now you’ll fight

And my fancy is flying
It’s a castle in the sky
Or there’s nothing out there
These are castles in the air

Fairytales live in me
Fables coming from my memory
Fantasy is not a crime
Find your castle in the sky

You’ve got the key
Of the kingdom of the clouds
Open the door
Leaving back your doubts

You’ve got the power
To live another childhood
So ride the wind
That leads you to the moon 'cause..."

dj satomi lyrics

The Beehive part V

Ok almost finished, it needs more bees, lights behind the honeycomb, and the model. Ashley is very excited, she is wearing a black tube top, long black gloves, her hair will be in an elaborate up-doo. Nicole and Sharon my helpers admitted how much fun they are having helping me construct this thing. So the next time you see this dress will be on the run-way.......

2009 Wearable Art and Runway Fashion Show February 21st @Palmer Train Depotdoors open at 6:00 p.m.tickets: $15.00
We want to make this a well loved tradition. The VAA Wearable Art Committee will bring all the creations together to present the audience with an exquisite evening of art entertainment, using the theme, music, staging and narration to bring it all together! It just keeps getting better and better.

Beehive Dress Part IV

Today I had to tear up a sheet to get enough material for the 5th tier, and go buy 200 safety pins (I am not going to sew these tiers together when pins will work), I also bought yellow dye for the slip and veil.It's hard not to spend money when I get going on a project. Posting the progress on my blog has been motivating me to ger-er-done. The structure is almost constructed, then we can dress it up. It should be a cross between Marie Antonette and a Queen Bee.

We got our passports with the same pictures, why?????

Anyway things are moving along towards the Wearable Art Show, the Ididarod Show at the Wasilla Museum, the interview on KAKM and ultimately the trip to Costa Rica. I've never been so busy with havin fun.

To answer your comments:

Annie, I've got a super attractive model named Ashley about 25-30, she has a models figure, a 27" waist, she is has a fun personality, is creative and excited to model for me. I'm thinking about asking her to wear her hair in a beehive.

Sarla,It indimidates me also to start a project, that was why I was so stressed a few days ago and asking myself if I was crazy. I couldn't do it without help from my daughter Nicole and my supportive husband Peter.

Patti, Thanks for the kudos, and the socess.

Well Niteoll and sleep well

The Beehive Costume part II

My daughter came by and helped me with this dress and she is going to come back tomorrow.
I'm so glad I was able to con her into helping me with this. LOL From the mess shall arise the beehive costume.

This is the front, its beeswax, tissue paper and chicken wire. It needs more layers and shaping so it looks like honey cells. I told myself I would just whip it out, yea right, it's going to take hours. I didnt' get out today although there were things I should have done, people who required and requested my presence, but I have a job and it's art, sometimes it requires that I hole up in my studio in my home and create. I could have a boring job selling cars or stocks.

Your ideas and comments are muchly appreciated.

Good Night

Pardon the picture it's a mess,

these are the ingredients for the Beehive dress, 8 yards of muslin, thread, liquid thread, chicken wire, sewing machine oil, thread, 8' flower garland, silk flowers, 20 yards of yellow nylon mesh,
newspaper, tissue paper, beeswax, big safety pins, and yellow ribbon.

I'm just sitting here checking out other peoples blogs. We creatives are a fascinating bunch aren't we? But sometimes reading blogs is just my way to avoid my own creative mess.
I know it's just that initial apprehension that I feel whenever I start something new. I have 13 days to do this, so no need to get nutty (yet).

The Beehive Dress

After going back and forth in my mind; should I do the Wearable Art Show, or should I not do the wearable art show. I threw common sense to the wind and made a decision, Yes. I will do the Wearable Art Show. http://www.valleyartsalliance.com/index.html Now I'm thinking am I nuts! The Idea was to made an elaborate beehive, encaustic wax honey combs in the front, bees buzzing all around and a flower headdress. My cute model Ashley Meadows will come down the runnway to the song Honey Bee by Deb Wessler http://www.debwessler.com/ an Alaskan songstress.

This costume is becoming a logistical nightmare, let me elaborate. First I tried foam pipe insulation made and hoops then tied them together with twine and white duct tape in a pyramid fashion. It didn't work. Next idea was to cut foam rubber and make the beehive look like a cake. Foam rubber costs 69.00 a square yard. No Way! Currently the idea is to make the beehive out of duct work. Yikes, I feel like quiting before I even get started.
Good points: Dear One is willing to help me, my daughter is willing to help, it will be fun, we will bond, others will share in my craziness, I will get loads of publicity.

But did I mention that KAKM Public Television is going to interview me on camera, I'll be on TV while my piece is being auctioned. If I was looking for attention then I am certainly getting it and lovin it too!
Here is a link to the site click on the right KAKM Art Showcase Auction http://kakm.org/2009/02/ look around for some nice Alaskan artwork mine is "A Place in the Heart" you can bid on the telephone live with the bidders in the studio.

Snowbirds Fly South For the Winter

It's 4 am and I'm not sleeping. How can I? I just booked a trip to Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica we are leaving in exactly 30 days. I'm excited and quite a little nervous about the trip. We are going to visit one of our snowbird friends (snow birds are Alaskans who only live here in the non winter months) in the winter fly south they enjoy the best of both worlds. After doing an internet search of the place we are going I discover it's the gateway to the Corcovado National Forest the most biologically intense place on the planet! Jaguars, scarlet macaws, and interesting bugs, snakes, crocks, monkeys and hungry mosquitos just like Alaska. Yet it is like the polar opposite of Alaska. Peter is going marlin fishing, the average temperature 85 degrees and the temp of the ocean is 85 degrees. We are staying on the beach, in town they have internet access Yay! Since it's been sooo long since we have taken a good vacation. I booked us for 21 days, long enough to maby get a little homesick and want to get back to work.....or become a snowbird....

btw check out my new website and tell me what you think...http://www.cabinfeverinalaska.com

Wordless Wednesday

The rest of the story or my life should be a sitcom.

My friendly Post Mistress called me at around noon and said "we found your passports."
Apparently they were put in the wrong p.o. box. The people were out of town and had someone picking up their mail and throwing it on their table, when they got home they found our passports in the pile and took them to the post office. WoW

So I already filed a lost or stolen passport form and that cannot be reversed and the new passport takes 10 business days. WTF did I learn from all this??? If only I'd waited through the weekend and not reacted so negatively, if only............
At least I like my new passport photo better than the first one.

I'd Like to Go All Postal or a Tale of Homeland Insecurity

Ok, so Monday I finally checked into why we still haven't received out passports since we applied for it on December 11. I call the U.S. Passport Agency and say whats up? and they say the passports were mailed on December 30th and here is the USPO tracking number #0004675982640916784.

I take this number to my local post office and they send me to the substation the substation says: duh, it was delivered here at 6:53 a.m. January 5th and delivered at 7:21 to your box. That is unlikely. It takes longer to drive to my rural p.o. box than that. I go back to the substantion four times trying to get some help, they say the satellite is down, they will send a supervisor out, the supervisor says we don't do that! What the hell, does anyone give a damn? I called the contract carrier, all emotional, a woman I know and like, she has her son deliver the mail, she spoke to him and all I heard in the background was double talk, she came back to the phone and said; "we we don't know what happened to your passports," and suggested I have the post office check in the certified mail or express mail bin. I went back again, the worker at the substation looked in the baskets and did not find them.
I went back to the post office and spoke to the Post Mistress who looked at me and my rant with an appropriate espression of understandingand making placating noises. She said they will look in all the boxes again. This was the 6th trip to the post office and numerous calls to the passport agency. Yesterday I called the Post Mistress back and she says with her understanding monotone voice that spoke she to John and they still can't find them still yatta, yatta, yatta. I'm going to puke. Why is this happening to me?

So Friday January 30th we came back to the post office and filed a DS-89 lost or stolen passport form and reapplied for new passports and opened a new p.o. box downtown.

In the meantime can anyone please tell me,

were the f--k are our passports????

A Day in Pictures

A Mid Winter Nights Musings

That is the title of the next show I am entering it is a mixed media event at the Girdwood Center for the Visual Arts. It is going to be an encaustic, oil, with an old window frame, bark, likken, twigs and such. I have got so many projects going at one time and so many creative ideas that my head is spinning. The need to be more organized and make lists is so important, I am working hard on making better work habits, becoming a better artist, and not becoming so overwhelemed. Remember this is supposed to be fun.
Right brained people unite! We need all the help we can get.

I painted this pomegranite the other night with oil sticks and my fingers it was fun to do. It looks juicy and delicious. The scan is a little dark but who cares at this point. What do you think?

The Black Madonna & Obama

Title:The Black Madonna and Obama
Artist: Judy Vars
Medium: OilSize: 16" X 20"
Price: 500.00
With some Grandmother energy in the Whitehouse this icon takes on a whole new layer.

My next veneration/icon is going to be for St Jude the patron saint of desperate and hopeless cases. This saint interceeded for me once-upon-a-time, but that makes another story.

I am reeling from some sad news about a friend 54 years old a hospice nurse and a wonderful and compassionate human being. Her and her partners cabin style house house caught on fire while the other was at work. She was burned externally and internally in addition to smoke inhalation, and was in critical condition the life flighted her to Seattle where she died shortly thereafter. That same week two little boys were home alone while mom was working and their house caught fire. Two men passing by saved one boy the other brother was killed.
Tragic.

It is so easy to have a house fire in the winter months when the temperature is -20 and so devastating to the families and friends of its victims. Please check the smoke detectors, lint in the dryer, be careful with those fireplaces, wood stoves and candles.

Dar we love you! this community has lost a beautiful soul. All of us your friends, family and especially your partner we will miss you till the end of our days.

My computer crashed again.... so what else is new

i'm still wating for more ram or another hardrive. I have many art opportunites in the fire, and cannot produce fast enough, right now i am concentrating on getting my house in order 15 minutes at a time with the Fly Lady. I got a Wii fit but have not gottin on it for 2 days and its going to bitch at me when i do, measuring my body fat telling me im old and fat.

If i get organized, fit and famous then what?

Isn't it a wonderful system where we can oust our leader every 4 or 8 years.
It's a wonderful country that can vote for our first black president on his merits.
I have not felt so hopeful and inspired by a new president since I was a little girl and John F. Kennedy was our president.

I will do my part to help our country and it's citizens realize our new beginning. I am willing to pick myself up and dust myself off, be green, volunteer, choose to communicate and respect all people. I will not give up turn back or falter.
What a wonderful and frightening time to be alive.
Did I overuse the word wonderful?

Another Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood of Good and Evil

Theory of Hate
Medium: Encaustic Wax Collage
Size: 20" H x 20" W and 4" deep
Artist:Judy Vars
NFS
This is the piece I did for Bryan and Josh, they are my computer techies, and have a heavy metal band; Theory of Hate http://www.myspace.com/theoryofhate This macabe piece was way fun to create. Sometimes people wonder where these sick ideas come from and why?
I don't know. I do like to be scared; but by things like vampires, ghouls, ghosts, monsters, from lore and imagination. On the other hand I hate movies that are too frightening like; Silence of the Lambs, SAW, the kind of movies with henious things done to other human beings, bizarre psychological thrillers, plots like hunting people, eating people, dismembering and the like. I Hate those kind of movies, with the exception of Sweeny Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Jonny Depp is sooooo sexy and the movie is too cool. I'll pay when those images get stuck in my head and sub-conscious and occasionally unearth themselves popping up in a nightmare. To create this work of art, I just went to a dark place that i hate and let my dark muse Lilith take over.
Currently reading: Stiff - The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
excerpt page 47: Robert...took me for the first time to the dissecting room...at the sight of that terrible charnel-house-fragments of limbs, the grinning heads and gaping skulls, the bloody quagmire underfoot and the atrocious smell it gave off, the swarms of sparrows wrangling over scraps of ling, the rats in their corner gnawing the bleeding vertebrae-such a feeling of revulsion possessed me that I lept through the window of the dissecting room and fled for home as though Death and all his hideous train were at my heels.

This cold January moon looms so close to the earth lately that I can feel her gravity and icy core.

There are record sub-zero temperatures but that hasn't stopped me from getting out and having some fun! Just the G-kids and I went to the Anchorage the Arts Gone Wild, they sang Karioke, went to a instrument petting zoo and poetry slam cool. Later Sharen Harris and I went to Greg Gusse One Man Show at the Madd Matters Gallery in Downtown Palmer it was enjoyable to hop nob a little but with the artist types, it was a very good time and the show was fabuloso, check him out http://www.axua.com/ a true renaissance man. Today I stayed home all day making stew and finishing a encaustic commission or trade for my new web site which should be up sooner or later, I promise.

These are sand dunes in Alaska at Kobuk Valley National park by Greg Gusse. Forgive the shadow.

Today I left the house after more than a week of minus 20 temperatures.

I am the peoples choice for January at the Firefly Gallery, 419 L Street in Anchorage. this means I get the front porch for my very own display for a month.
So I drove in to Anchor Town and put up, ta, ta, ta, taaaaa drum roll please.
Oprah As The Black Madonna and Obama or the Shrine of the Black Madonna.This section of town is becoming a real art district like So-Ho Anchorage style, hip cool people living and working downtown and frequenting hip cool establishments like the Firefly Gallery and the Snow City Cafe. The people when they walk past will see this Icon staring back at them. It's timely with the inauguration coming up this month and changes afoot. This display might be somewhat controversial (I hope).
I've seen some peoples reactions to what they perceive to be religious and political and irreverent all at once. I hope this icon gets lots of attention, hee hee hee.

Go See It In Person; @ the Firefly Gallery 419 L Street across from the Simon and Seaforts and the Arctic Rose.

An opportunity to manifest hope through your art http://www.manifesthope.com/contest.html